Vol. 315 No. 10
asked the Minister for Finance the reasons the wishes of parents regarding the reconstruction and extension of Carne national school, Garranard, Ballina, County Mayo, were disregarded; if the estimated cost of repairs, defects discovered by the Office of Public Works and of adding two rooms were taken into account when the decision to construct a new school was taken instead of repairing the old one.
115.
asked the Minister for Finance the reasons the decision to construct a new school at Carne national school, Garranard, Ballina, County, Mayo, was taken despite the parents' view that additional rooms and general repairs to the existing school would suffice; if he will list the main defects in the existing building and the estimated cost of repairing these defects and the estimated cost of the new school.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, it is proposed to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.
The Commissioners of Public Works have recommended to the Minister for Education that a new school be provided at Carne because the existing building, due to its age, outmoded design and restricted site, would not allow of carrying out a satisfactory modernisation and extension scheme at reasonable cost.
The cost of the proposed new school on the site offered by the reverend chairman of the school board of management is estimated at £80,000, whereas the improvement and extension of the existing school would cost approximately £73,000 at a minimum.
The Commissioners are of the opinion that the proposed new school is the more satisfactory and economical solution but the decision on the replacement or retention of the existing school is, of course, for the Minister for Education.
